[UPDATED] Moruga/Tableland MP suspects arson at constituency office

An early-morning fire destroyed part of the office of the MP for Moruga/Tableland on Thursday.

Reports are at about 1 am, Princes Town fire officers got a report that the wooden building at Moruga Road, Indian Walk, near Petite Café Junction, was on fire.

They put out the fire but are yet to determine the cause. The cost of the damage has not been determined.

The MP, Michelle Benjamin, as well as office manager Deochan Ragoonanan were also alerted and went to the office.

A post on Benjamin’s Facebook page at 4.24 am said, "From office break in October, to the possibility of arson in December 2020, to social media attacks on my family.

"This morning I was awakened by a call at approximately 1 am regarding a fire at the constituency office. This is sabotage at the highest! God is in control, but no one was injured."

In another post a few hours later, Benjamin said the staff was working to salvage the remains of the fire, and police and other relevant authorities continued to carry out their investigations.

She said, "The office remains severely burnt and destroyed as the course of the fire has affected the entirety of the building."

Benjamin is the former councillor for the Hindustan/St Mary’s electoral district. This position became vacant when she won the Moruga/Tableland seat for the UNC in the general election on August 10.

She is one of several former local government representatives who became MPs. As such, by-elections are set for next month, on January 25, for five corporations nationwide.

Ragoonanan and Benjamin revisited the office on Thursday.

"It started in the manager’s office. We lost things like office supplies and the camera system. It is too much to mention at this time. This could be in the hundreds of thousands in damage," Ragoonanan said.

"In October, someone tried to break into the building from a back door. He did not get a chance to steal anything, and we changed the locks."

When Newsday visited, Benjamin was not at the office and calls to her cell went unanswered.

This story was originally published as Fire at Moruga/Tableland MP's office. The original version can be read below.

An early-moring fire severely damaged part of the office of the MP for Moruga/Tableland on Thursday.

Reports are at about 1 am, Princes Town fire officers got a reportthat the wooden building at Moruga Road, Indian Walk, near Petite Café Junction, was on fire.

They put out the fire but are yet to determine the cause. The cost of the damage has not been determined.

The MP, Michelle Benjamin, was also alerted and visited the office.

A post on her Facebook account at 4.24 am said, "From office break in October to the possibility of arson in December 2020 to social media attacks on my family.

"This morning I was awakened by a call at approximately 1 am regarding a fire at the constituency office. This is sabotage at the highest! God is in control, but no one was injured."

Calls to her cell went unanswered.

Benjamin is the former councillor for the Hindustan/St Mary’s electoral district. This position became vacant when she won the Moruga/Tableland seat for the UNC in the general election on August 10. By-elections are set for next month, on January 25, for five local government corporations nationwide.